Protests planned ahead of Ireland versus Israel match on October 4

Protests have been organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Irish Sport for Palestine prior to Ireland's second match against Israel in the Nation's League. The game is set to be held in Bačka Topola, Serbia, on Sunday, October 4.

The IPSC will be campaigning outside of the Dáil on Wednesday, September 30, where FAI CEO David Courell will be meeting with the Oireachtas Sports Committee. They will be outside the building at 11.30 am to appeal to Courell to cancel the game.

 

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Irish Sport for Palestine will be demonstrating at Ireland's game against Austria at the Aviva Stadium, on Thursday, October 1. The protest will be begin at 6.30 pm, with the match kicking off at 7.45 pm. The group are also calling on the FAI to cancel the second fixture against Israel.

 

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Following Ireland's 3-0 victory against Israel in Hungary on September 27, Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson explained the team's next steps before October 4.

"We haven’t decided what we will do 100%. When we get home tonight, we’ll give them a day off tomorrow to go home, and share a day with their families and friends and loved ones, and then we’ll come back and prepare for the Austria game.

"Hopefully we can finish that one and take a discussion."

When asked about the player's differeing viewpoints on playing the match he said;

"We have different opinions, and we should allow people to have different opinions. It’s not one opinion that’s right and all the others are wrong.

"We have different players in the squad that come from different backgrounds, so we need to be careful that everybody has a say in our decisions. But it’s tough when there are different decisions."

Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was the only player who decided not to play in the game on September 27. He said in a statement on his Instagram that his decision was based "purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong."

However, he is planned to remain with the team for the Austria match on October 1.

The Irish players wore black armbands during the match, in recognition of the Palestinian people killed during Israel's war on Gaza. They also refused to shake hands with the Israeli team, and bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem.